Pro-Government Militias
Manila Crusaders for Peace and Democracy (Philippines)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 150 |
| Country: | Philippines |
| Date formed: | Nov. 9, 1987 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | day |
| Details of Formation: | The PGM was set up by the police in November 1987 after an increase in rebel activity that had killed many police and soldiers in Manila. This was accompanied by a call by President Aquino for civilian vigilantes to form anti-insurgent hit-squads. The Manila Crusaders were set up as a force in the area of Tondo in Manila. Brig.-Gen. Alfredo Lim and the local police commander Major Romeo Maganto are mentioned to have been involved in the creation of the group. |
| Date dissolved: | July 1, 1989 |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | month |
| Details of Termination: | Police commander Maganto, who initiated the group, was suspended in July 1989, and his group was also suspended. He was back in office six month later and apparently a new Metro Manila CPD was formed but no evidence exists. |
| Termination Type(s): | government defects |
Former and Successor Group Information
| Predecessor group(s): | none |
| Successor group(s): | none |
| Private Military Company? | no |
| Former Group? | no |
| Former Armed Group? | no |
| Former Rebel Group? | no |
| Former Rebel Group UCDP ID: | none |
| PGM Becomes Rebel Group? | no |
| Successor Rebel Group UCDP ID: | none |
Government Relation, Support, and Training
| Government Relation: | semi-official (type 2) |
| Created by the Government?: | yes | Main Creating Government Institution: | other |
| Government Link(s): | person/minister; state (institution) |
| If link to party, name of party: | None |
| Training and Equipment: | yes |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: | yes |
| Shared Personnel: | no |
| Type(s) of Material Support: | no information |
| State Sponsor(s): | none |
| Other Connection(s): |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | urban |
| Primary Membership: | local |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | Manila |
| Force Strength: | [1380, 2500] |
| Target(s): | rebels, insurgents, or other armed group |
| Purpose(s): | intelligence gathering; anti crime; fight insurgents |
Ethnic Characteristics
| Ethnic Target(s): | none |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting: | not applicable |
| Ethnic Membership: | none |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: | not applicable |
| Ethnic Purpose: | none |
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: | not applicable |
Other Information
| Other Information: |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | Their main purpose was to participate in counterinsurgent activity and help fight rebels in Manila. Members vowed to rid their neighbourhood of criminals in general and communist gunmen in particular. One news source says that they were used as information gatherers. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | knowledge; local presence |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | unknown |
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? | no |
| PGM Members Paid? | no information |
| Reasons for Membership: | When police opened applications, thousands of volunteers lined up to form part of the new PGM. |
| PGM Members Killed? | rarely |
PGM Size
| Size: | Initially, the group was planned to expand in Manila with more than 16,000 members. When applications opened, around 4,000-5,000 people signed up. One news source says that 1,380 were then accepted, another news sources speaks of 2,500 vigilantes. |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: | Recruits received elementary target-shooting and martial arts training at the police station in Tondo slum. |
Organisation
| Organisation: | Major Romero Maganto stated that his officers would firmly control the recruits. Police Lt. Col. Conrado Francisco is mentioned by one news source as the overall coordinator for the Manila Crusaders for Peace and Democracy. In 1988, Margarita Tenorio was mentioned as president of the PGM. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.